Bible (King James Version, 1611)/Esther

For other versions of this work, see Esther (Bible).

The Booke of Eſther.

CHAP. I.

1 Ahaſuerus maketh royall feaſts. 10 Vaſthi, ſent for, refuſeth to come. 13 Ahaſuerus, by the counſell of Memucan, maketh the decree of mens ſoueraigntie.

Ow it came to paſſe in the dayes of Ahaſuerus, (this is Ahaſuerus which reigned from India, euen vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundred, and ſeuen and twentie prouinces.)

²That in thoſe dayes, when the King Ahaſuerus ſate on the throne of his kingdome, which was in Shuſhan the palace:

³In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feaſt vnto all his Princes, and his ſeruants, the power of Perſia and Media, the Nobles and Princes of the prouinces being before him.

⁴When he ſhewed the riches of his glorious kingdome, and the honour of his excellent maieſtie, many dayes, euen an hundred and foureſcore dayes.

⁵And when theſe dayes were expired, the king made a feaſt vnto all the people that were ^†† Hebr. found. preſent in Shuſhan the palace, both vnto great and ſmall, ſeuen dayes, in the court of the garden of the kings palace.

⁶Where were white, greene, and ‖‖ Or, violet. blew hangings, faſtened with cords of fine linnen, and purple, to ſiluer rings, and pollers of marble: the beds were of gold and ſiluer, vpon a pauement of ‖‖ Or, of porphyre, and marble, and alabaſter, and ſtone of blew colour. red, and blewe, and white, and blacke marble.

⁷And they gaue them drinke in veſſels of gold, (the veſſels being diuers one from another) and ^†† Hebr. wine of the kingdome. royall wine in abundance, according to the ^†† Heb. according to the hand of the king. ſtate of the king.

⁸And the drinking was according to the law, none did compell: for the king had appointed to all the officers of his houſe, that they ſhould doe according to euery mans pleaſure.

⁹Alſo Vaſthi the Queene made a feaſt for the women, in the royall houſe which belonged to king Ahaſuerus.

¹⁰¶ On the ſeuenth day, when the heart of the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the ſeuen ‖‖ Or, Eunuches. chamberlens that ſerued in the preſence of Ahaſuerus the king,

¹¹To bring Vaſthi the Queene before the king, with the Crowne royall, to ſhew the people, and the Princes her beautie: for ſhe was ^†† Hebr. good of countenance. faire to looke on.

¹²But the Queene Vaſthi refuſed to come at the Kings commandement ^†† Hebr. which was by the hand of his Eunuches. by his chamberlens: therefore was the King very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

¹³¶ Then the king ſaide to the wiſe men, which knew the times (for ſo was the Kings maner towards all that knew law, and iudgement:

¹⁴And the next vnto him, was Carſhena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarſhis, Meres, Marſena, and Memucan, the ſeuen ** Ezra.7.14. Princes of Perſia, and Media, which ſaw the Kings face, and which ſate the firſt in the kingdome.)

^15†† Hebr. what to doe? What ſhall wee doe vnto the Queene Vaſthi, according to law, becauſe ſhe hath not performed the commandement of the king Ahaſuerus, by the chamberlens?

¹⁶And Memucan anſwered before the king and the Princes; Vaſthi the Queene hath not done wrong to the king onely, but alſo to all the Princes, and to all the people that are in all the prouinces of the king Ahaſuerus.

¹⁷For this deed of the queene ſhall come abroad vnto all women, ſo that they ſhal deſpiſe their huſbands in their eyes, when it ſhall bee reported; The king Ahaſuerus commanded Vaſthi the queene to be brought in before him, but ſhe came not.

¹⁸Likewiſe ſhall the Ladies of Perſia and Media ſay this day vnto all the kings princes, which haue heard of the deed of the Queene. Thus ſhall there ariſe too much contempt and wrath.

^19†† Heb. if it be good with the king. If it pleaſe the king, let there go a royall commandement ^†† Heb. from before him. from him, and let it bee written among the lawes of the Perſians, and the Medes, ^†† Heb. that it paſſe not away. that it be not altered, that Vaſthi come no more before king Ahaſuerus, and let the king giue her royall eſtate ^†† Heb. vnto her companion. vnto another that is better than ſhe.

²⁰And when the kings decree, which he ſhal make, ſhalbe publiſhed throughout all his empire, (for it is great:) all the wiues ſhall giue to their huſbands honour, both to great and ſmall.

²¹and the ſaying ^†† Heb. was good in the eyes of the king. pleaſed the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

²²For he ſent letters into all the kings prouinces, into euery prouince, according to the writing thereof, and to euery people after their language, that euery man ſhould beare rule in his owne houſe, and ^†† Heb. that one ſhould publiſh it according to the Language of his people. that it ſhould be publiſhed according to the language of euerie people.

CHAP. II.

1 Out of the choiſe of virgines, a Queene is to be choſen. 5 Mordecai the nurſing father of Eſther. 8 Eſther is preferred by Hegai before the reſt. 12 The maner of purification, & going in to the king. 15 Eſther beſt pleaſing the king, is made Queene. 21 Mordecai diſcouering a treaſon, is recorded in the Chronicles.

Fter theſe things, when the wrath of king Ahaſuerus was appeaſed, hee remembred Vaſthi, and what ſhee had done, and what was decreed againſt her.

²Then ſaide the kings ſeruants, that miniſtered vnto him, Let there bee faire yong virgins ſought for the king:

³And let the king appoint officers in all the prouinces of his kingdome, that they may gather together all the faire yong virgins vnto Shuſhan the palace, to the houſe of the women ^†† Heb. vnto the hand. vnto the cuſtodie of ‖‖ Or, Hegai, ver.8. Hege the kings chamberlaine, keeper of the women, and let their things for purification bee giuen them:

⁴And let the maiden which pleaſeth the king, bee Queene in ſtead of Vaſthi. And the thing pleaſed the king, and he did ſo.

⁵¶ Now in Shuſhan the palace, there was a certaine Iew, whoſe name was Mordecai, the ſonne of Iair, the ſonne of Shimei, the ſonne of Kiſh, a Beniamite,

⁶** 2.King.24.15. ier.24.1. and 2.chro.36.10. Who had bene carried away from Ieruſalem, with the captiuitie which had bene caried away with Ioconiah king of Iudah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon had caried away.

⁷And hee ^†† Heb. nouriſhed. brought vp Hadaſſah (that is Eſther) his vncles daughter, for ſhe had neither father nor mother, and the maid was ^†† Heb. faire of forme, and good of countenance. faire and beautiful, whom Mordecai (when her father and mother were dead) tooke for his owne daughter.

⁸¶ So it came to paſſe, when the kings commandement and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together vnto Shuſhan the palace, to the cuſtodie of Hegai, that Eſther was brought alſo vnto the kings houſe, to the cuſtodie of Hegai, keeper of the women.

⁹And the maiden pleaſed him, and ſhe obtained kindneſſe of him, and hee ſpeedily gaue her her things for purification, with ^†† Heb. her portions. ſuch things as belonged to her, and ſeuen maidens, which were meet to be giuen her, out of the Kings houſe, and ^†† Heb. he changed her. hee preferred her and her maids, vnto the beſt place of the houſe of the women.

¹⁰Eſther had not ſhewed her people, nor her kinred: for Mordecai had charged her, that ſhe ſhould not ſhew it.

¹¹And Mordecai walked euery day before the court of the womens houſe, ^†† Heb. to know the peace. to know how Eſther did, and what ſhould become of her.

¹²¶ Now when euery maids turne was come, to goe in to King Ahaſuerus, after that ſhee had bene twelue moneths, according to the maner of the women (for ſo were the dayes of their purifications accompliſhed, to wit, ſixe moneths with oile of myrrhe, and ſixe moneths with ſweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women.)

¹³Then thus came euery maiden vnto the king, whatſoeuer ſhe deſired, was giuen her, to goe with her out of the houſe of the women, vnto the kings houſe.

¹⁴In the euening ſhe went, and on the morrowe ſhe returned into the ſecond houſe of the women, to the cuſtodie of Shaaſhgaz the kings chamberlen, which kept the concubines: ſhee came in vnto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that ſhee were called by name.

¹⁵¶ Now when the turne of Eſther, the daughter of Abihail, the vncle of Mordecai (who had taken her for his daughter) was come, to goe in vnto the king: ſhe required nothing, but what Hegai the kings chamberlen the keeper of the women, appointed: And Eſther obtained fauour in the ſight of all them that looked vpon her.

¹⁶So Eſther was taken vnto king Ahaſuerus, into his houſe royall, in the tenth moneth (which is the moneth Tebeth) in the ſeuenth yeere of his reigne.

¹⁷And the king loued Eſther aboue all the women, and ſhe obtained grace and ‖‖ Or, kindneſſe. fauour ^†† Heb. before him. in his ſight, more then all the virgins; ſo that hee ſet the royall crowne vpon her head, and made her queene, in ſtead of Vaſthi.

¹⁸Then the king made a great feaſt vnto all his princes and his ſeruants, euen Eſthers feaſt, and hee made a ^†† Heb. reſt. releaſe to the prouinces, and gaue gifts, according to the ſtate of the king.

¹⁹And when the virgins were gathered together the ſecond time, then Mordecai ſate in the kings gate.

²⁰Eſther had not yet ſhewed her kindred, nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: For Eſther did the commandement of Mordecai, like as when ſhe was brought vp with him.

²¹¶ In thoſe dayes, (while Mordecai ſate in the kings gate) two of the kings chamberlens, ‖‖ Or, Bigthana, chap.6.2. Bigthan and Tereſh, of thoſe which kept ^†† Heb. the threſhold. the doore, were wroth, and ſought to lay hand on the king Ahaſuerus.

²²And the thing was knowen to Mordecai, who told it vnto Eſther the Queene, and Eſther certified the king thereof, in Mordecais name.

²³And when inquiſition was made of the matter, it was found out; therfore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the booke of the chronicles before the king.

CHAP. III.

1 Haman aduanced by the king, and deſpiſed by Mordecai, ſeeketh reuenge vpon all the Iewes. 7 Hee caſteth Lots. 8 Hee obtaineth by calumniation, a Decree of the king, to put the Iewes to death.

Fter theſe things did king Ahaſuerus promote Haman, the ſonne of Amedatha the Agagite, and aduanced him, and ſet his ſeate aboue all the princes that were with him.

²And all the kings ſeruants, that were in the kings gate, bowed, and reuerenced Haman, for the king had ſo commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reuerence.

³Then the kings ſeruants, which were in the kings gate, ſayd vnto Mordecai, Why tranſgreſſeſt thou the kings commandement?

⁴Now it came to paſſe, when they ſpake daily vnto him, and he hearkened not vnto them; that they told Haman, to ſee whether Mordecai his matters would ſtand, for he had told them that he was a Iewe.

⁵And when Haman ſaw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reuerence, then was Haman full of wrath.

⁶And hee thought ſcorne to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had ſhewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman ſought to deſtroy all the Iewes, that were throughout the whole kingdome of Ahaſuerus, euen the people of Mordecai.

⁷¶ In the firſt moneth (that is, the moneth Niſan) in the twelfth yeere of king Ahaſuerus, they caſt Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman, from the day to day, and from moneth to moneth, to the twelfth moneth, that is the moneth Adar.

⁸¶ And Haman ſaide vnto king Ahaſuerus: There is a certaine people ſcattered abroad, and diſperſed among the people, in all the prouinces of thy kingdome, and their lawes are diuerſe from all people, neither keepe they the kings lawes; therefore it is not ^†† Heb. meete or, equall. for the kings profit to ſuffer them.

⁹If it pleaſe the king, let it be written, ^†† Heb. to deſtroy them. that they may be deſtroyed: and I will ^†† Heb. weigh. pay ten thouſand talents of ſiluer to the handes of thoſe that haue the charge of the buſineſſe, to bring it into the kings treaſuries.

¹⁰And the king tooke his ring from his hand, and gaue it vnto Haman the ſonne of Ammedatha the Agagite, the Iewes ‖‖ Or, oppreſſour. enemie.

¹¹And the king ſaide vnto Haman, The ſiluer is giuen to thee, the people alſo, to doe with them, as it ſeemeth good to thee.

¹²Then were the kings ‖‖ Or, ſecretaries. ſcribes called on the thirteenth day of the firſt moneth, and there was written, according to all that Haman had commanded, vnto the kings Lieutenants, and the gouernours that were ouer euery prouince, and to the rulers of euery people of euery prouince, according to the writing thereof, and to euery people, after their language, in the name of king Ahaſuerus was it written, and ſealed with the kings ring.

¹³And the letters were ſent by poſts into all the kings prouinces, to deſtroy, to kill, and to cauſe to periſh all Iewes, both yong and olde, litle children and women, in one day, euen vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth (which is the moneth Adar) and to take the ſpoile of them for a pray.

¹⁴The copie of the writing for a commandement to bee giuen in euery prouince, was publiſhed vnto all people, that they ſhould bee ready againſt that day.

¹⁵The poſtes went out, being haſtened by the kings commandement, and the decree was giuen in Shuſhan the palace: and the king and Haman ſate downe to drinke, but the citie Shuſhan was perplexed.

CHAP. IIII.

1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the Iewes. 4 Eſther vnderſtanding it, ſendeth to Mordecai, who ſheweth the cauſe, and aduiſeth her to vndertake the ſuit. 10 Shee excuſing her ſelfe is threatned by Mordecai. 15 She appointing a faſt, vndertaketh the ſuit.

Hen Mordecai perceiued all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on ſackcloth with aſhes, and went out into the midſt of the citie, and cried with a loud and a bitter crie:

²and came euen before the kings gate: for none might enter into the kings gate clothed with ſackcloth.

³And in euery prouince, whither ſoeuer the kings commandement, and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Iewes, and faſting, and weeping, and wailing, and ^†† Heb. ſackecloth and aſhes were laid vnder many. many lay in ſackcloth and aſhes.

⁴¶ So Eſthers maides and her ^†† Heb. Eunuches. chamberlaines came, and told it her: then was the Queene exceedingly grieued, and ſhe ſent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away the ſackcloth from him: but he receiued it not.

⁵Then called Eſther for Hatach, one of the kings chamberlaines, ^†† Heb. whom he had ſet before her. whom he had appointed to attend vpon her, and gaue him a commandement to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

⁶So Hatach went forth to Mordecai, vnto the ſtreet of the citie, which was before the kings gate:

⁷And Mordecai tolde him of all that had happened vnto him, and of the ſumme of the money that Haman had promiſed to pay to the Kings treaſuries for the Iewes, to deſtroy them.

⁸Alſo he gaue him the copie of the writing of the decree, that was giuen at Shuſhan to deſtroy them, to ſhewe it vnto Eſther, and to declare it vnto her, and to charge her that ſhe ſhould goe in vnto the king, to make ſupplication vnto him, and to make requeſt before him, for her people.

⁹And Hatach came and told Eſther the words of Mordecai.

¹⁰¶ Againe Eſther ſpake vnto Hatach, and gaue him commandement vnto Mordecai;

¹¹All the Kings ſeruants, and the people of the kings prouinces do know, that whoſoeuer, whether man or woman, ſhall come vnto the King into the inner court, who is not called, there is one lawe of his to put him to death, except ſuch to whom the King ſhall hold out the golden ſcepter, that he may liue: but I haue not beene called to come in vnto the King, theſe thirtie dayes.

¹²And they tolde to Mordecai Eſthers words.

¹³Then Mordecai commanded to anſwere Eſther; Thinke not with thy ſelfe that thou ſhalt eſcape in the kings houſe, more then all the Iewes.

¹⁴For if thou altogether holdeſt thy peace at this time, then ſhall there ^†† Heb. reſpiration. enlargement and diliuerance ariſe to the Iewes from another place, but thou and thy fathers houſe ſhall be deſtroyed: And who knoweth, whether thou art come to the kingdome for ſuch a time as this?

¹⁵¶ Then Eſther bade them returne Mordecai this anſwere:

¹⁶Goe, gather together all the Iewes that are ^†† Heb. found. preſent in Shuſhan, and faſt yee for me, and neither eate nor drinke three dayes, night or day: I alſo and my maidens will faſt like wiſe, and ſo will I goe in vnto the king, which is not according to the Law, and if I periſh, I periſh.

CHAP. V.

1 Eſther aduenturing on the kings fauour, obteineth the grace of the golden ſcepter, and inuiteth the king and Haman to a banquet. 6 She being incouraged by the king in her ſuit, inuiteth them to another banquet the next day. 9 Haman proud of his aduancement, repineth at the contempt of Mordecai. 14 By the counſell of Zereſh, he buildeth for him a paire of gallous.

Ow it came to paſſe on the third day, that Eſther put on her royall apparell, and ſtood in the inner court of the kings houſe, ouer against the kings houſe: and the King ſate vpon his royall throne in the royall houſe, ouer againſt the gate of the houſe.

²And it was ſo, when the king ſaw Eſther, the Queene ſtanding in the court, that ſhee obtained fauour in his ſight: and the king helde out to Eſther the golden ſcepter that was in his hand: So Eſther drew neere, and touched the top of the ſcepter.

³Then ſayd the King vnto her, what wilt thou, Queene Eſther? and what is thy requeſt? it ſhall be euen giuen thee to the halfe of the kingdome.

⁴And Eſther anſwered, If it ſeeme good vnto the King, let the King and Haman come this day vnto the banquet that I haue prepared for him.

⁵Then the King ſayd, Cauſe Haman to make haſte, that he may doe as Eſther hath ſaid: So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Eſther had prepared.

⁶¶ And the king ſaid vnto Eſther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, and it ſhall be granted thee? and what is thy requeſt? euen to the halfe of the kingdome it ſhall be performed.

⁷Then anſwered Eſther, and ſaid, My petition, and my requeſt is,

⁸If I haue found fauour in the ſight of the king, and if it pleaſe the king to grant my petition, and ^†† Heb. to doe. to performe my requeſt, let the king, and Haman, come to the banquet that I ſhall prepare for them, and I wil do to morow, as the king hath ſaid.

⁹¶ Then went Haman foorth that day, ioyfull, and with a glad heart: but when Haman ſaw Mordecai in the kings gate, that hee ſtood not vp, nor mooued for him, hee was full of indignation againſt Mordecai.

¹⁰Neuertheleſſe Haman refrained himſelfe, and when he came home, hee ſent and ^†† Heb. cauſed to come. called for his friends, and Zereſh his wife.

¹¹And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had aduanced him aboue the Princes, and ſeruants of the king.

¹²Haman ſaid moreouer, Yea Eſther the Queene did let no man come in with the king vnto the banquet that ſhe had prepared, but my ſelfe; and to morrow am I inuited vnto her alſo with the king.

¹³Yet all this auaileth me nothing, ſo long as I ſee Mordecai the Iew ſitting at the kings gate.

¹⁴¶ Then ſaide Zereſh his wife, and all his friends vnto him, Let a ^†† Heb. tree. gallous be made of fifty cubits hie, and to morrow ſpeake thou vnto the king, that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then goe thou in merily with the king vnto the banquet. And the thing pleaſed Haman, and hee cauſed the gallous to be made.

CHAP. VI.

1 Ahaſuerus reading in the Chronicles of the good ſeruice done by Mordecai, taketh care for his reward. 4 Haman comming to ſue that Mordecai might bee hanged, vnawares giueth counſell that hee might doe him honour, 12 complayning of his misfortune, his friends tell him of his finall deſtinie.

N that night ^†† hebr. the kings ſleepe fled away. could not the King ſleepe, and hee commanded to bring the booke of Records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

²And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of ‖‖ Or, Bigthan, chap.2.21. Bigthana, and Tereſh, two of the kings chamberlens, the keepers of the ^†† Hebr. threſhold. doore, who ſought to lay hand on the king Ahaſuerus.

³And the king ſaid, What honour and dignitie hath bene done to Mordecai for this? Then said the kings ſeruants that miniſtred vnto him, There is nothing done for him.

⁴¶ And the king ſaid, Who is in the court? (now Haman was come into the outward court of the kings houſe, to ſpeake vnto the king, to hang Mordecai on the gallows that hee had prepared for him.)

⁵And the kings ſeruants ſaid vnto him, Behold, Haman ſtandeth in the court. And the King ſaide, Let him come in.

⁶So Haman came in, and the king ſaid vnto him, What ſhall be done vnto the man ^†† Hebr. in whoſe honour the King delighteth whom the king delighteth to honour? (now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to doe honour, more then to my ſelfe?)

⁷And Haman anſwered the king, For the man ^†† Hebr. in whoſe honour the king delighteth. whom the king delighteth to honour,

^8†† Hebr, let them bring the royall apparell. Let the royall apparell bee brought, ^†† Heb. wherwith the king clotheth himſelfe. which the King vſeth to weare, and the horſe that the King rideth vpon, and the crowne royal which is ſet vpon his head:

⁹And let this apparell and horſe bee deliuered to the hand of one of the kings moſt noble Princes, that they may aray the man withall, whom the king delighteth to honour, and ^†† Heb. cauſe him to ride. bring him on horſebacke through the ſtreete of the city, and proclaime before him, thus ſhal it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

¹⁰Then the king ſaide to Haman, Make haſte, and take the apparell, and the horſe, as thou haſt ſaid, and doe euen ſo to Mordecai the Iew, that ſitteth at the Kings gate: ^†† Heb. ſuffer not a whit to fail. let nothing faile of all that thou haſt ſpoken.

¹¹Then tooke Haman the apparell, and the horſe, ⁊ arayed Mordecai, and brought him on horſ-backe through the ſtreete of the city, and proclaimed before him: Thus ſhall it bee done vnto the man whom the King delighteth to honour.

¹²¶ And Mordecai came againe to the kings gate: but Haman haſted to his houſe, mourning, and hauing his head couered.

¹³And Haman told Zereſh his wife, and all his friends, euery thing that had befallen him. Then ſaide his wiſe men, and Zereſh his wife vnto him, If Mordecai be of the ſeed of the Iewes, before whom thou haſt begun to fall, thou ſhalt not preuaile againſt him, but ſhalt ſurely fall before him.

¹⁴And while they were yet talking with him, came the kings chamberlens, and haſted to bring Haman vnto the banquet that Eſther had prepared.

CHAP. VII.

1 Eſther intertaining the King and Haman, maketh ſuit for her owne life, and her peoples. 5 She accuſeth Hamn. 7 The King in his anger vnderſtanding of the gallous, which Haman had made for Mordecai, cauſeth him to be hanged thereon.

O the King and Haman came ^†† Hebr. to drinke. to banquet with Eſther the Queene.

²And the king ſaid againe vnto Eſther, on the ſecond day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, Queene Eſther, and it ſhalbe granted thee? and what is thy requeſt? and it ſhall bee performed, euen to the halfe of the kingdome.

³Then Eſther the Queene anſwered, and ſaid; If I haue found fauour in thy ſight, O King, and if it pleaſe the King, let my life be giuen me at my petition, and my people at my requeſt.

⁴For we are ſold, I and my people, ^†† Hebr. that they ſhould deſtroy and kil, and cauſe to perish. to be deſtroyed, to be ſlaine, and to periſh: but if we had bene ſold for bondmen, and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not counteruaile the kings dammage.

⁵¶ Then the king Ahaſuerus anſwered, ⁊ ſaid vnto Eſther the Queene: Who is he? and where is he, ^†† Hebr. whoſe heart hath filled him. that durſt preſume in his heart to do ſo?

⁶And Eſther ſaid, ^†† Hebr. the man aduerſary. The aduerſary and enemie, is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid ‖‖ Or, at the preſence of. before the King and the Queene.

⁷¶ And the king ariſing from the banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden: and Haman ſtood vp to make requeſt for his life to Eſther the Queene: for he ſaw that there was euill determined againſt him by the King.

⁸Then the king returned out of the palace garden, into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman was fallen vpon the bed whereon Eſther was. Then ſaid the King, Will hee force the Queene alſo ^†† Heb. with me. before me in the houſe? As the word went out of the Kings mouth, they couered Hamans face.

⁹And Harbonah one of the chamberlaines, ſaid before the king; Behold alſo the ^†† Heb. tree. gallowes, fiftie cubites high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had ſpoken good for the king, ſtandeth in the houſe of Haman. Then the king ſaid, Hang him thereon.

¹⁰So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the Kings wrath pacified.

CHAP. VIII.

1 Mordecai is aduanced. 3 Eſther maketh ſuite to reuerſe Hamans letters. 7 Ahaſuerus granteth to the Iewes to defend themſelues. 15 Mordecais honour, and the Iewes ioy.

N that day did the King Ahaſuerus giue the houſe of Haman, the Iewes enemy, vnto Eſther the Queene; and Mordecai came before the King; for Eſther hade told what he was vnto her.

²And the king tooke off his Ring which he had taken from Haman, and gaue it vnto Mordecai. And Eſther ſet Mordecai ouer the houſe of Haman.

³¶ And Eſther ſpake yet againe before the king, and fell downe at his feet, ^†† Heb. and ſhe wept and beſought him. and beſought him with teares, to put away the miſchiefe of Haman the Agagite, and his deuice, that he had deuiſed againſt the Iewes.

⁴Then the king helde out the golden ſcepter toward Eſther. so Eſther aroſe, and ſtood before the king,

⁵And ſaid, If it pleaſe the king, and if I haue found fauour in his ſight, and the thing ſeeme right before the king, and I bee pleaſing in his eyes, let it be written to reuerſe ^†† Heb. the deuice. the letters deuiſed by Haman the ſonne of Hammedatha the Agagite, ‖‖ Or, who wrote. which hee wrote to deſtroy the Iewes, which are in all the kings prouinces.

⁶For how can I ^†† Heb. be able that I may ſee. endure to ſee the euill that ſhall come vnto my people? or how can I endure to ſee the deſtruction of my kinred?

⁷¶ Then the king Ahaſuerus ſaid vnto Eſther the Queene, and to Mordecai the Iewe, Behold, I haue giuen Eſther the houſe of Haman, and him they haue hanged vpon the gallowes, becauſe hee layde his hand vpon the Iewes.

⁸Write ye alſo for the Iewes, as it liketh you, in the Kings name, and ſeale it with the Kings ring: for the writing which is written in the Kings name, and ſealed with the Kings ring, ** See Chap.1.19. may no man reuerſe.

⁹Then were the kings ſcribes called at that time, in the third moneth, (that is, the month Siuan) on the three and twentieth day thereof, and it was written (according to all that Mordecai commanded) vnto the Iewes, and to the Lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the prouinces, which are from India vnto Ethiopia, an hundred, twentie and ſeuen prouinces, vnto euery prouince according to the writing thereof, and vnto euery people after their language, and to the Iewes, according to their writing, and according to their language.

¹⁰And he wrote in the king Ahaſuerus name, and ſealed it with the kings Ring, and ſent letters by Poſtes, on horſebacke, and riders on mules, camels, and yong dromedaries:

¹¹Wherein the King granted the Iewes, which were in euery citie, to gather themſelues together, and to ſtand for their life, to deſtroy, to ſlay, and to cauſe to periſh all the power of the people and prouince that would aſſault them, both little ones, and women, and to take the ſpoile of them for a pray:

¹²Vpon one day, in all the prouinces of king Ahaſuerus, namely vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is the moneth Adar.

¹³The copy of the writing, for a commandement to bee giuen in euery prouince, was ^†† Heb. reuealed. publiſhed vnto all people, and that the Iewes ſhould be readie againſt that day, to auenge themſelues on their enemies.

¹⁴So the poſts that rode vpon mules and camels went out, being haſtened, and preſſed on by the kings commandement, and the decree was giuen at Shuſhan the palace.

¹⁵¶ And Mordecai went out from the preſence of the king, in royall apparrell, of ‖‖ Or, violet. blew and white, and with a great crowne of gold, and with a garment of fine linnen, and purple, and the citie of Shuſhan reioyced, and was glad:

¹⁶The Iewes had light and gladneſſe, and ioy and honour.

¹⁷And in euery prouince, and in euery city, whitherſoeuer the kings commandement, and his decree came, the Iewes had ioy and gladnes, a feaſt and a good day: And many of the people of the land became Iewes; for the feare of the Iewes fell vpon them.

CHAP. IX.

1 The Iewes, (the rulers, for feare of Mordecai helping them) ſlay their enemies, with the ten ſonnes of Haman. 12 Ahaſuerus at the requeſt of Eſther, granteth another day of ſlaughter, and Hamans ſonnes to be hanged. 20 The two daies of Purim are made ſeſtiuall.

Ow in the twelfth month (that is the moneth Adar) of the thirteenth day of the ſame, when the Kings commandement and his decree drew neere to bee put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Iewes hoped to haue power ouer them: (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Iewes had rule ouer them that hated them.)

²The Iewes gathered themſelues together in their cities, throughout all the prouinces of the king Ahaſuerus, to lay hand on ſuch as ſought their hurt, and no man could withſtand them: for the feare of them fell vpon all people.

³And all the rulers of the prouinces, and the Lieutenants, and the deputies, and ^†† Heb. thoſe which did the buſines that belonged to the King. officers of the king, helped the Iewes: becauſe the feare of Mordecai fell vpon them.

⁴For Mordecai was great in the kings houſe, and his fame went out, throughout all the prouinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

⁵Thus the Iewes ſmote all their enemies with the ſtroke of the ſword, and ſlaughter, and deſtruction, and did ^†† Heb. according to their will. what they would vnto thoſe that hated them.

⁶And in Shuſhan the palace the Iewes ſlew and deſtroyed fiue hundred men:

⁷And Parſhandatha, and Dalphon, and Aſpatha,

⁸And Pratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

⁹And Parmaſhta, and Ariſai, and Aridai, and Vaiesatha,

¹⁰The ten ſonnes of Haman the ſonne of Hammedatha, the enemie of the Iewes, ſlew they, but on the ſpoile laid they not their hand.

¹¹On that day, the number of thoſe that were ſlaine in Shuſhan the palace, ^†† Heb. came. was brought before the king.

¹²¶ And the king ſaid vnto Eſther the Queene; The Iewes haue ſlaine and deſtroyed fiue hundred men in Shuſhan the palace, ⁊ the ten ſonnes of Haman; what haue they done in the reſt of the kings prouinces? now what is thy petition? and it ſhalbe granted thee: or what is thy requeſt further? and it ſhall be done.

¹³Then ſaid Eſther, If it pleaſe the king, Let it bee granted to the Iewes which are in Shuſhan, to doe to morow alſo, according vnto this dayes decree, and ^†† Heb. let men hang. let Hamans ten ſonnes be hanged vpon the gallous.

¹⁴And the king commanded it ſo to be done; and the decree was giuen at Shuſhan, and they hanged Hamans ten ſonnes.

¹⁵For the Iewes that were in Shuſhan, gathered themſelues together on the fourteenth day alſo of the moneth Adar, and ſlewe three hundred men at Shuſhan: but on the pray they laid not their hand.

¹⁶But the other Iewes that were in the kings prouinces, gathered themſelues together, ⁊ ſtood for their liues, and had reſt from their enemies, and ſlew of their foes ſeuenty and fiue thouſand, but they laid not their handes on the pray.

¹⁷On the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar, and on the fourteenth day ^†† Heb. in it. of the ſame, reſted they, and made it a day of feaſting and gladnes.

¹⁸But the Iewes that were at Shuſhan, aſſembled together on the thirteenth day therof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the ſame, they reſted, and made it a day of feaſting and gladneſſe.

¹⁹Therefore the Iewes of the villages, that dwelt in the vnwalled townes, made the foureteenth day of the moneth Adar, a day of gladneſſe and feaſting, and a good day, and of ſending portions one to another.

²⁰¶ And Mordecai wrote theſe things, and ſent letters vnto all the Iewes, that were in all the prouinces of the king Ahaſuerus, both nigh ⁊ farre,

²¹To ſtabliſh this among them, that they ſhould keepe the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar, and the fifteenth day of the ſame, yeerely:

²²As the dayes wherein the Iewes reſted from their enemies, ⁊ the moneth which was turned vnto them, from ſorrow to ioy, and from mourning into a good day: that they ſhould make them daies of feaſting and ioy, and of ſending portions one to another, and gifts to the poore.

²³And the Iewes vndertooke to doe, as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written vnto them:

²⁴Becauſe Haman the ſonne of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemie of all the Iewes, had deuiſed againſt the Iewes to deſtroy them, and had caſt Pur, (that is, the lot) to ^†† Heb. cruſh. conſume them, and to deſtroy them.

²⁵But ^†† Heb. when ſhe came. when Eſther came before the king, he commanded by letters, that his wicked deuice which he deuiſed againſt the Iewes, ſhould returne vpon his owne head, and that he and his ſonnes, ſhould be hanged on the gallous.

²⁶Wherefore they called theſe dayes Purim, after the name of ‖‖ That is, Lot. Pur: therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had ſeene concerning this matter, and which had come vnto them,

²⁷The Iewes ordeined, and tooke vpon them, and vpon their ſeed, and vpon all ſuch as ioyned themſelues vnto them, ſo as it ſhould not ^†† Hebr. paſſe. faile, that they would keepe theſe two dayes, according to their writing, and according to their appointed time, euery yeere:

²⁸And that theſe dayes ſhould be remembred, and kept throughout euery generation, euery family, euery prouince, and euery citie, and that theſe dayes of Purim ſhould not ^†† Hebr. paſſe. faile from among the Iewes, nor the memoriall of them ^†† Hebr. be ended. periſh from their ſeed.

²⁹Then Eſther the Queene, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Iew, wrote with ^†† Hebr. all ſtrength. all authoritie, to confirme this ſecond letter of Purim.

³⁰And hee ſent the letters vnto all the Iewes, to the hundred, twentie and ſeuen prouinces of the kingdome of Ahaſuerus, with wordes of peace and trueth:

³¹To confirme theſe dayes of Purim, in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Iew, and Eſther the Queene had enioyned them, and as they had decreed ^†† Hebr. for their ſoules. for themſelues and for their ſeed, the matters of the faſtings and their cry.

³²And the decree of Eſther confirmed theſe matters of Purim, and it was written in the booke.

CHAP. X.

1 Ahaſuerus his greatneſſe. 3 Mordecais aduancement.

Nd the king Ahaſuerus layde a tribute vpon the land, and vpon the Iſles of the ſea.

²And all the actes of his power, and of his might, and the declaration of the greatneſſe of Mordecai, whereunto the king ^†† Heb. made him great. aduanced him, are they not written in the booke of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Perſia?

³For Mordecai the Iew was next vnto King Ahaſuerus, and great among the Iewes, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, ſeeking the wealth of his people, and ſpeaking peace to all his ſeed.